When it comes to talk about TIG welding, the first thing we need is the tungsten electrode.
A good quality tungsten electrode not only provides reliable performance but also makes free of defects finish.
Choosing the best tungsten grinder from tons of options may be a little bit tricky.
You need to consider various types of things, including reliability, consistency, durability, affordability, user-friendliness, etc.
Fortunately, after conducting a dozen tests and studies, we come up with top-five tungsten grinders, giving tough competition to any competitor.
NOTE: Don't use grinder of chemical to sharpen your electrode. Wyatt Swaim from weld.com (TIG welding instructor) explains these methods to clarify which is the best for grinding tungsten.
Product Name | Features | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Eastwood TIG Welder Tungsten Grinder  The Top Pick | Easy to use. | ||
Cordless Sharpie DX Adjustable Tungsten Grinder  Best Cordless Tungsten Grinder | Flexibile. | ||
Sharpie SD Standard Model Hand-Held Tungsten Grinder  Best Budget-Friendly Grinder | Easy to use. Perfect choice for beginners. | ||
Sharpie DX Deluxe Model Hand-Held Tungsten Grinder  Best Mid-Range Tungsten Grinder | Great technical support. | ||
CK TS10 120V Tungsten Electrode Grinder Turbo-Sharp X  Best High-End Tungsten Grinder | Robust motor. |
Why Tungsten Grinder is Important?
One of the most common problems in TIG welding is not producing a stable arc. If your tungsten electrode selection is right, it may be due to not sharpening the tip of the electrode enough. For which the polarity is not adequate. It is also caused by very low amperage with inadequate arc length. For this reason, tungsten grinding is very essential.
If you use a stone grinder to sharpen your tungsten, it can result in contamination and poor sharpening. A tungsten grinder can solve this problem. It is able to make the tip of tungsten fit for perfect welding.
Stable arc
The Tungsten grinder enables the tungsten electrode to produce a stable arc. It will help to do a good-looking welding.
Prevents contamination
If you don’t use a tungsten grinder, it can cause contamination in the electrode. With contaminated substances, the welding may not be strong enough.
Good penetration
A sharpened tungsten penetrates at a deeper level. It gives a solid welding.
5 Best Tungsten Grinder Reviews
1. Eastwood TIG Welder Tungsten Grinder – The Top Pick
This grinder is designed to create the optimum rpm for the diamond sharpening wheel. It will help you to give your tungsten good arc stability which is very much needed for good-looking, stronger, and better penetrating welds.
This can work with all types of tungsten. It works only 1/16” and 3/32” tungsten's which can grind at 10° and 22.5° angles. It can sharpen over 200 tungsten which is 100 on each side. It will give you more power and less vibration. This can give your tungsten electrode a smooth and better-pointed tip.
It works at 120 VAC and 60 Hz. Its speed is variable which can be 0 to 40,000 RPM. The diamond wheel diameter is 1”. It can sharpen only 1/16” and 3/32” tungsten's.
Replacement parts available:
PROS
CONS
2. Cordless Sharpie DX Adjustable Hand-Held Tungsten Grinder – Best Cordless Tungsten Grinder
This grinder pro kit is a bit expensive as a handheld grinder but worth's your every penny. Your investment in this will serve you for years. This is specialized with a Black & Decker RTX corded motor and high-grade double-sided diamond wheel. Its helpful for higher tungsten usage which will save you time and money.
This grinder can sharpen electrodes sizes of .040" (1.0mm), 1/16" (1.6mm), 3/32" (2.4mm) and 1/8" (3.2mm).The grinding angle is adjustable which ranges from 15° to 45°. It makes it capable of doing any type of TIG welding. This grinder has a double-sided diamond wheel that enables it to use both sides.
It is a handheld grinder. This works at 110 Volts in AC waves. It weighs 4.3 lbs. The length of the motor is 9 inches, without the head which is 11 inches. You can use 1-¼” tungsten at a minimum.
The price is high as a hand-held grinder. But you won’t repent after testing its quality.
Replacement Parts available:
PROS
CONS
3. Sharpie SD Standard Model Hand-Held Tungsten Grinder — Best Budget-Friendly Grinder
This one is also a hand-held grinder from the Sharpie brand. Because of portability, I will keep these types of pro kits ahead. They are easy to use and do the work very fast. Most importantly, they grind the tungsten so well and help to give a better-looking weld.
Like the previous one, this grinder also sharpens electrodes sizes of .040" (1.0mm), 1/16" (1.6mm), 3/32" (2.4mm), and 1/8" (3.2mm). This makes it fit for using it in any type of TIG welding. This type of grinder doesn’t need to turn the tungsten at different sides. Remember sharpening your pencil? It’s like that. Just enter the tungsten in and the later work is done by the grinder itself.
In this hand-held grinder, you have to use 110 Volt AC current. This grinder has a fixed angle of 20° that is a little bit inflexible but does not create problems. Like the previous one, it also weighs 4.3 lbs. The length of the motor is 9 inches and without the head, it is 11 inches. You can use at least 1-¼” tungsten.
This is also a little bit pricey. But its quality won’t disappoint you.
Replacement Parts available:
PROS
CONS
4. Sharpie DX Deluxe Model Hand-Held Tungsten Grinder – Best Mid-Range Tungsten Grinder
Sharpie tungsten grinder is a very flexible and high-quality product among the hand-held grinders. So, I have again kept another model from this brand. It is a convenient tool though this one is not a pro kit. By the way, you may not like it for its price. In that case, I will suggest buying from the previous Sharpie grinders. To say honestly, this one is not as advanced as the previous models.
Like the previous ones, this grinder is also said to sharpen electrode sizes of .040" (1.0mm), 1/16" (1.6mm), 3/32" (2.4mm), and 1/8" (3.2mm). But according to some users, though it is great for 1/8", it is not so great for 3/32" and 1/16". However, it also works like a pencil sharpener. You just put the tungsten in and the work is done. You don’t need to see what happens inside.
This grinder is also for 110 volts AC waves. You can use an angle from 15 degrees to 45 degrees. It has a double-sided grinding wheel.
The price is high. They should reduce the price and increase the quality.
Replacement Parts available:
PROS
CONS
5. CK TS10 120V Tungsten Electrode Grinder Turbo-Sharp X – Best For Professional Use
Now I want to introduce you to a CK tungsten grinder. It is the most expensive among all the reviewed products here. But this price is worth the money. It serves great for professional welders. It will serve many years with a consistent work quality hopefully.
This model is different from the previous ones. This can be used not only as a hand-held grinder but also as a bench mounted grinder which can be mounted with a simple bench.
This grinder can sharpen electrodes having diameters of .040" (1.0mm), 1/16" (1.6mm), 3/32" (2.4mm) and 1/8" (3.2mm). This can eliminate contamination of the tungsten. At the same time, it allows you to do dust-free grinding. And it comes with sparing tools by which you can do other works as well.
It works in 120 volts and 60 Hz AC current. It is a 400W tungsten grinder. It works on 3.5 amperage. It weighs about 3.7 lbs. The angle is adjustable from 20 degrees to 70 degrees angle.
The price is high. But as a high quality and flexible product, it is really worthy.
Replacement Parts available:
PROS
CONS
What to Look for Before Buying a Tungsten Grinder?
If you want to buy a good tungsten grinder, you should have a sound knowledge about this. A tungsten grinder is not cheap. It’s natural to expect a good service from the grinder for a long time. But your investment can go in vain if you don’t pick the right grinder. Let’s see what to consider before buying a tungsten grinder.
For what purpose are you buying a grinder?
First, consider your needs. It’s not only in buying a grinder. It’s applicable for every product. If you weld in thin sheets, you don’t need to buy the ones that grind thick tungsten. But I recommend buying one that can be used for versatile usage as much as possible.
Capability of sharpening tungsten's of different diameters:
A cheaper grinder can grind only one or two different diameters of tungsten. But the costlier ones can grind almost all diameters. Think about what you need.
Grinding method:
Your sharpened tungsten should have a smooth and non-pointed but gradually angular head. This depends on the grinding style; either does it work longitudinally or transversely?
Cutting the contaminated part:
If there is a system of cutting the contaminated part of the tungsten easily, it becomes comfortable for you.
Taking time for grinding:
How much time does it take to grind the tungsten? That is a factor too. If it works fast, you can do more work in a short time.
Choose the one with the best price:
The pricier one is not always the best. Many expensive grinders are heavy-duty professionals. Their production is high, so they don’t care about the price. They want only productivity. If you don’t make heavy and versatile use, look for a cheaper one that serves your purpose.
Dust collecting vacuum:
There is a safety issue. If your grinder spreads too much dust, that can cause serious problems by entering in through nostrils. The models with closed heads don’t spread dust. So, they’re safe for your health.
Longevity of the grinder:
As it needs a good amount of money to buy a grinder, you should choose one that lasts long. If a cheaper grinder doesn't last much, that is a loss for you. So, select a long-lasting grinder.
Replacement Parts:
Replacement parts will save your money from buying a new grinder when a part is broken. Make sure the replacement parts are available easily in the market, and the cost of replacing them isn't much higher.
So, these are the common checking points. If you consider these, you may easily buy a good tungsten grinder.
Conclusion:
If you have read from the beginning to here, you almost have a good idea about the best tungsten grinder. This post was actually written for beginners. I hope this will help the professionals to remove their confusion.
However, while buying a new tungsten grinder, please check the guide I gave here. There is also a shortlist of products for your ease so that you can easily find one from so many models. You can choose from there.
At least, notice what features to look for while choosing a perfect tungsten grinder. Hopefully, you will be able to find a good tungsten grinder for ensuring smooth welding.